Fern E.K. Schneider

NORFOLK – Mass of Christian Burial for Fern E.K. Schneider, 87, of Norfolk formerly of Pierce, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk. Interment will be held at the Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 12 at Stonacek Funeral Chapel, with a Vigil service beginning at 7:00 pm, also at Stonacek Funeral Chapel. Fern passed away on Friday, March 7, 2025 at her residence in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Fern was born on August 7, 1937 in Orchard, Nebraska to George and Clara (Pfanstiel) Waterman. She was baptized at the Lutheran Church in Orchard, NE and later confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish in O’Neill, NE. The family grew up in Page, Nebraska where she attended grade school and graduated from Page High School in 1955. Fern married Alfred P. "Al" Schneider on October 24, 1955 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Atkinson. To this union 7 children were born, Neil, Marlene, Mike, Pat, Mary Jo, Deb, and Lisa. After marriage, the couple lived in Atkinson and then later moved to Page where they farmed for a few years. Al then began working construction and the family moved to Creighton before settling in Pierce, where Al built their longtime family home. They moved to Norfolk in 2018. Fern worked at Dales Electronics for 12 years, Norfolk Sisters Hospital for 5 years, and Norfolk Immaculata Monastery for 10 years. Al and Fern owned and operated their own flooring business “Al’s Floor Care.” Their business operated in three states-Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. They both retired in the early 2000’s. She was a member of Sacred Heart/St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norfolk, Altar Society, and Rosary Crusade. Fern loved embroidery, gardening, watching and feeding birds. She also loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She is survived by her children Neil (Denna) Schneider of Allen, Marlene (Paul) Simpson of Tucson, Ariz., Mike (Linda) Schneider of Omaha, Pat Schneider, Mary Jo (Bob) Nelson, Deb (Dan) Funk, all of Norfolk, and Lisa (Herb) Ziegenbein of Plainview, 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and brother-in-law Victor (Candy) Schneider of Captain Cook, Hawaii. She was preceded in death by her husband Alfred P. "Al" Schneider on December 27, 2020, parents George and Clara Waterman, two infant sisters, brothers Walter Waterman, Louis Waterman, Lester Waterman, Arthur Waterman, Charles Waterman, sister Anna Mizner, son-in-law Wayne Moldenhauer, son-in-law Mike Rossmeier, and great-granddaughter Kimberly Hoesing, Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Fern E.K. Schneider

August 7, 1937 - March 7, 2025